Samuel A. Hicks

Sam Hicks, 81, of Belton, MO, passed away at St. Joseph Health Center, Jan. 19, 2011. Sam was born in New York City, NY, on May 19, 1929, to Samuel and Matilda Emerson Hicks, both Irish immigrants. He left high school and joined the Army serving in Japan and was a member of the 1st Calvary. Upon discharge he returned to Worcester, NY, and finished high school. He then attended Duke University on the GI Bill, becoming president of his fraternity the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Theta Chi. After graduating Sam went to work as an accountant for General Electric. He met his future wife, Mary Jane Connors at a company Clam Bake and was married in 1955. Sam was transferred to FL and KY by GE. They had two daughters, Cheryl and Lynn, who swam competitively from pre-school through college whom they followed to many competitions. After leaving GE, Sam opened a Doctor's Pet Center (much to the delight of his young daughters) which he sold a year later. He took a job at Larsen, a manufacturing co in Newark, OH, and then he worked for Jacuzzi Brothers in Little Rock, AR. He then worked for Standard Industries in San Antonio, TX, where they lived for 28 years which enabled him to become a huge Spurs fan. His girls liked to tease Sam that he could not keep a job but in fact he was a controller/account (his specialty turning troubled companies around) and he loved the challenge. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Fred Hicks in 1994, and his sister, Hazel Nelson Jan 13th of this year. Sam is survived by his wife of 55 years Mary Jane Hicks and daughters Cheryl Winters of Benton, AR, and Lynn Stingo of Leawood, KS; 6 grandchildren, Michael, Nina and Adam Stingo of Leawood, and Blair Raney, Joe and Whitney Winters of AR. Sam had 3 great grandchildren: Sam, Kennedy, and Noah. Funeral Services to be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at McGilley & George Funeral Home, 611 Chestnut, Belton, Mo. 64012, Visitation 1:00-2:00 prior to the service. Burial with military honors in the Belton Cemetery. Contributions suggested to American Cancer Society . Condolences may be left at www.mcgilleygeorgebelton.com. McGilley & George Funeral Home, 611 Chestnut, Belton, MO 64012, 816-322-2995